COMP CLOSED new illustrated edition of ‘Quidditch through the Ages’
A school holiday treat this week, with a giveaway of the upcoming Quidditch Through the Ages Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Emily Gravett.
5 things illustrators should know about writing picture books
Image above: By Judith Rossell Multi-award-winning author and illustrator Judith Rossell teaches Writing Picture Books and How to Write for Children and Young Adults at
Writing Podcast Episode 353 Kate Mildenhall’s ‘The Mother Fault’ [Story Sessions series]
In Episode 353 of So You Want To Be A Writer: This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series featuring ‘The Mother Fault’ by Kate Mildenhall. Narrated by veteran Australian actor Claudia Karvan, we bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this book.
Q&A: Tragedy vs travesty
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its
Writing Podcast Episode 352 Meet Craig Silvey, author of ‘Honeybee’.
In Episode 352 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Craig Silvey, author of Honeybee. Learn about a cool opportunity to become a bookseller in the Maldives. Enter The Horne Prize for your chance to win $15,000. Alison Rushby shares her tips on how to make writing fun again. Plus, we have 3 copies of Just Like You by Nick Hornby to give away.
COMP CLOSED ‘Just Like You’ by Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby fans rejoice, because this week’s giveaway is his latest book – Just Like You. We have three copies to give away from this
Writing Podcast Episode 351 Sophie Hannah’s ‘The Killings at Kingfisher Hill’ [Story Sessions series]
In Episode 351 of So You Want To Be A Writer: This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series featuring ‘The Killings at Kingfisher Hill’ by Sophie Hannah. Sophie continues the adventures of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot in this mystery and we bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this book.
What does a UX/UI writer do in a day? Expert Carli Ratcliff tells us
UX and UI writing – which stands for ‘user experience’ and ‘user interface’, respectively – will be something you experience every day, though probably without
Q&A: Another think vs thing coming
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its
5 must-dos to turn your thriller into a bestseller
British-Australian crime and thriller writer L.A. Larkin – who teaches the Australian Writers’ Centre’s popular Crime and Thriller Writing course – is an expert in
Win $15,000 for an essay on Australian life
The Horne Prize, a collaboration between The Saturday Paper and Aesop is now open. Do you have a burning idea for an essay on contemporary
Writing Podcast Episode 350 Meet Penguin Random House publisher Laura Harris.
In Episode 350 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Penguin Random House publisher Laura Harris. Do bookshops make your bowels move? Discover how to enter the Spark prize for narrative non-fiction. And congrats to Dinuka McKenzie for winning The Banjo Prize! Plus, we have 3 copies of Nala’s World by Dean Nicholson to give away.
AWC alumna Astrid Scholte wins Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for Best YA Crime Novel
The Sisters in Crime 20th Davitt Awards have been presented and we’re thrilled that AWC alumna Astrid Scholte has won the Best Young Adult Crime
COMP CLOSED ‘Nala’s World’ by Dean Nicholson
When 30-year-old Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to cycle around the world, his aim was to learn as much as he could about our
Five tips for writing mystery stories for kids
By R.A. Spratt. The latest book from R.A. Spratt is The Peski Kids 5: The Final Mission, a mystery story for kids. We get her
Make writing fun again
By award-winning author, Allison Rushby. We’ve all been there. It’s Sunday. Your chores are done. Everyone else in the house has gone out. The dog/cat/ferret
Q&A: Jump the shark
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its
Furious Fiction September 2020 winner and shortlist
A picture told 500 words this month as we welcomed back the infamous picture prompt to our Furious Fiction criteria club. The picture above was
Congrats to AWC alumna Dinuka McKenzie – winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize!
HarperCollins Australia has announced their winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize and we are thrilled it’s Dinuka McKenzie, one of our talented alumni! Dinuka took
Writing Podcast Episode 349 Meet Christie Nieman, author of ‘Where We Begin’.
In Episode 349 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Christie Nieman, author of Where We Begin. Discover what you can learn from being an author-entrepreneur. Plus, we have 5 double passes to ‘The Translators’ to give away.
COMP CLOSED: double passes to ‘The Translators’
As cinemas reopen across Australia, thanks to Palace Films this week we’re offering up FIVE double passes to new film The Translators. It opens in
Spark Prize for narrative non-fiction now open
Do you write narrative non-fiction? Do you have an idea for a publishable book, but just need an extra boost? Hardie Grant has just launched
Q&A: Grams, ounces, pounds, stones and tons…
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its
Watch Creative Conversations with bestselling middle-grade author Allison Tait
Bestselling author of epic middle-grade fiction Allison Tait met with AWC CEO Valerie Khoo in a Creative Conversations episode to chat about her new book
Writing Podcast Episode 348 Meet Richard Fidler, broadcaster and author of ‘The Golden Maze: A Biography of Prague’.
In Episode 348 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Richard Fidler, broadcaster and author of The Golden Maze: A Biography of Prague. Congratulations to AWC alumnae Felicity McVay and Brooke Grahams for publishing their debut picture books. Plus, shout out to AWC alumna Petronella McGovern for being on the 2020 Ned Kelly Crime Awards shortlist with her thriller Six Minutes. Plus, we have 3 copies of The Golden Maze by Richard Fidler to give away.
COMP CLOSED new illustrated edition of ‘Quidditch through the Ages’
A school holiday treat this week, with a giveaway of the upcoming Quidditch Through the Ages Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Emily Gravett. An essential 160-page companion to the Harry Potter series, this spectacular new full-colour edition brings together one of the world’s best loved storytellers with the
5 things illustrators should know about writing picture books
Image above: By Judith Rossell Multi-award-winning author and illustrator Judith Rossell teaches Writing Picture Books and How to Write for Children and Young Adults at the Australian Writers’ Centre, and has been writing and illustrating children’s books for nearly 20 years. She was an illustrator first before adding writing to
Writing Podcast Episode 353 Kate Mildenhall’s ‘The Mother Fault’ [Story Sessions series]
In Episode 353 of So You Want To Be A Writer: This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series featuring ‘The Mother Fault’ by Kate Mildenhall. Narrated by veteran Australian actor Claudia Karvan, we bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this book.
Q&A: Tragedy vs travesty
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re exploring tragic circumstances… Q:
Writing Podcast Episode 352 Meet Craig Silvey, author of ‘Honeybee’.
In Episode 352 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Craig Silvey, author of Honeybee. Learn about a cool opportunity to become a bookseller in the Maldives. Enter The Horne Prize for your chance to win $15,000. Alison Rushby shares her tips on how to make writing fun again. Plus, we have 3 copies of Just Like You by Nick Hornby to give away.
COMP CLOSED ‘Just Like You’ by Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby fans rejoice, because this week’s giveaway is his latest book – Just Like You. We have three copies to give away from this million-copy bestselling author – a brutally funny novel about finding love when you least expect it. The person you are with is just like you:
Writing Podcast Episode 351 Sophie Hannah’s ‘The Killings at Kingfisher Hill’ [Story Sessions series]
In Episode 351 of So You Want To Be A Writer: This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series featuring ‘The Killings at Kingfisher Hill’ by Sophie Hannah. Sophie continues the adventures of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot in this mystery and we bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this book.
What does a UX/UI writer do in a day? Expert Carli Ratcliff tells us
UX and UI writing – which stands for ‘user experience’ and ‘user interface’, respectively – will be something you experience every day, though probably without even knowing it. At its best, it’s seamless. UX/UI writer Carli Ratcliff, who presents the Australian Writers’ Centre’s UX Writing course, says no two days
Q&A: Another think vs thing coming
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re in a think tank…
5 must-dos to turn your thriller into a bestseller
British-Australian crime and thriller writer L.A. Larkin – who teaches the Australian Writers’ Centre’s popular Crime and Thriller Writing course – is an expert in the art of building suspense and high stakes in a thriller novel. Read on for her top 5 ways to turn your thriller into a
Win $15,000 for an essay on Australian life
The Horne Prize, a collaboration between The Saturday Paper and Aesop is now open. Do you have a burning idea for an essay on contemporary Australian life? The winner of the 2020 Horne Prize will receive a whopping $15,000. The prize is named after the late Donald Horne AO, a
Writing Podcast Episode 350 Meet Penguin Random House publisher Laura Harris.
In Episode 350 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Penguin Random House publisher Laura Harris. Do bookshops make your bowels move? Discover how to enter the Spark prize for narrative non-fiction. And congrats to Dinuka McKenzie for winning The Banjo Prize! Plus, we have 3 copies of Nala’s World by Dean Nicholson to give away.
AWC alumna Astrid Scholte wins Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for Best YA Crime Novel
The Sisters in Crime 20th Davitt Awards have been presented and we’re thrilled that AWC alumna Astrid Scholte has won the Best Young Adult Crime Novel for her debut novel Four Dead Queens. It’s been an incredible year for Astrid, who also made the shortlist for the CBCA Book of
COMP CLOSED ‘Nala’s World’ by Dean Nicholson
When 30-year-old Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to cycle around the world, his aim was to learn as much as he could about our troubled planet. But he hadn’t bargained on the lessons he’d learn from his unlikely companion. The result is this week’s giveaway – Nala’s World –
Five tips for writing mystery stories for kids
By R.A. Spratt. The latest book from R.A. Spratt is The Peski Kids 5: The Final Mission, a mystery story for kids. We get her to spill five tips on how to write a great mystery story for children. 1. Plot backwards I usually come up with the big reveal
Make writing fun again
By award-winning author, Allison Rushby. We’ve all been there. It’s Sunday. Your chores are done. Everyone else in the house has gone out. The dog/cat/ferret has been walked/played with/whatever you do with a ferret. You’ve got a few hours up your sleeve. Uninterrupted time! You were all set to write
Q&A: Jump the shark
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, there’s a shark attack… Q:
Furious Fiction September 2020 winner and shortlist
A picture told 500 words this month as we welcomed back the infamous picture prompt to our Furious Fiction criteria club. The picture above was the image in question and the complete challenge for September went something like this: Each story had to be INSPIRED by the picture above. Each story’s
Congrats to AWC alumna Dinuka McKenzie – winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize!
HarperCollins Australia has announced their winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize and we are thrilled it’s Dinuka McKenzie, one of our talented alumni! Dinuka took out the major prize for her manuscript Flood Debris (released in 2022 as The Torrent), winning a publishing contract with HarperCollins and a $15,000 advance.
Writing Podcast Episode 349 Meet Christie Nieman, author of ‘Where We Begin’.
In Episode 349 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Christie Nieman, author of Where We Begin. Discover what you can learn from being an author-entrepreneur. Plus, we have 5 double passes to ‘The Translators’ to give away.
COMP CLOSED: double passes to ‘The Translators’
As cinemas reopen across Australia, thanks to Palace Films this week we’re offering up FIVE double passes to new film The Translators. It opens in cinemas from 17 September 2020. A big hit at the recent Alliance Française French Film Festival, THE TRANSLATORS is written and directed by Régis Roinsard
Spark Prize for narrative non-fiction now open
Do you write narrative non-fiction? Do you have an idea for a publishable book, but just need an extra boost? Hardie Grant has just launched its inaugural Spark Prize for narrative non-fiction. According to the Hardie Grant website, the winner will receive: $2000 prize money, a 6-month mentorship with Hardie
Q&A: Grams, ounces, pounds, stones and tons…
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, weight for it… Q: Hi
Watch Creative Conversations with bestselling middle-grade author Allison Tait
Bestselling author of epic middle-grade fiction Allison Tait met with AWC CEO Valerie Khoo in a Creative Conversations episode to chat about her new book The Fire Star and answer the community’s burning questions about all things writing. Allison Tait, also known as A.L. Tait, is the internationally published bestselling
Writing Podcast Episode 348 Meet Richard Fidler, broadcaster and author of ‘The Golden Maze: A Biography of Prague’.
In Episode 348 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Richard Fidler, broadcaster and author of The Golden Maze: A Biography of Prague. Congratulations to AWC alumnae Felicity McVay and Brooke Grahams for publishing their debut picture books. Plus, shout out to AWC alumna Petronella McGovern for being on the 2020 Ned Kelly Crime Awards shortlist with her thriller Six Minutes. Plus, we have 3 copies of The Golden Maze by Richard Fidler to give away.
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